Westgate Bus Hotspot Scheme
Construction is expected to begin from 14 September 2026
Construction of the Bradford Westgate Bus Hotspot Scheme is expected to start from 14 September 2026, with works expected to take approximately six months.
The scheme is part of Bradford Council’s wider Bus Hotspots programme, which is focused on improving the reliability and accessibility of bus services across the district.
The works will take place in phases across 13 locations, with construction expected to take approximately one week at each location. This means works will move around the area rather than taking place at all locations at the same time.
Traffic management will predominantly operate between 8am and 5pm.
The construction programme for the Westgate scheme is expected to take place at a similar time to works associated with Bradford City Village. While the two schemes are separate projects, their construction programmes will be aligned where possible to help minimise disruption across the local area.
Construction updates
Please see below for the latest construction updates:
Construction is expected to start from 14 September 2026.
W/C 14 September: work to the footways will be taking place at Baptist Place.
W/C 21 September: work to the footways will be taking place at the former entrances to Oastler Market.
What is the Bus Hotspot Scheme?
Delays can make journeys less predictable and reduce the attractiveness of public transport, particularly for people who rely on buses to access work, education, healthcare, shopping and other essential services.
Bradford Council, working with bus operators, has identified a number of locations across the district where delays to bus services are most common. These locations are being prioritised for improvements to help make bus journeys more reliable.
The Bus Hotspots programme aims to:
Reduce bus journey times and improve reliability by removing barriers that can cause delays, including congestion and inconsistent priority for buses.
Make travelling by bus a positive choice for everyone, including households without access to a private vehicle.
Improve road safety and reduce the risk of accidents through new and improved pedestrian crossings.
Create a more inclusive, accessible and safer bus network, particularly benefiting people with disabilities and older people.
Increase bus passenger numbers by making public transport more reliable and dependable.
Reduce delays and improve traffic flow by introducing bus lanes and upgrading key junctions.
Westgate has been identified as a key location where changes to the road layout and bus priority arrangements can help reduce delays and improve the reliability of bus services travelling through Bradford city centre.
What will the scheme deliver?
The Westgate scheme will make changes to the road layout, including new bus lanes and priority measures, which will help buses move more reliably through this busy part of Bradford city centre. The scheme will also introduce increased accessibility for cyclists, walkers and wheelers with new cycleways and crossings.
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St Thomas's Road will be closed to two-way traffic from Westgate, while cycle access will remain via a new cycleway. Planters will be installed to enforce this closure. St Thomas’s Road will still be accessible for all traffic from Rebecca Street and Longcroft Link.
This closure will take place under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). The closure will be introduced on a trial basis for approximately 18 months and will be monitored before any decision is made on whether it should become permanent.
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The junctions of Simes Street and Rawson Road with Westgate are now proposed to be altered as part of the Bradford City Village project. You can find out more about the project by visiting: www.bradfordcityvillage.com
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Travelling towards the city centre
The existing left-hand lane of the two general traffic lanes will be converted into a new inbound camera-enforced bus lane between City Road and Lumb Lane.
The left-turn slip road from B6144 Westgate onto Lumb Lane will be removed for all traffic apart from cyclists. A new cycleway will be installed.
The existing pedestrian crossings and traffic island will be realigned at the junction of Lumb Lane to reflect the new layout.
The inbound bus lane will continue from Rawson Road to Providence Street, providing a consistent route for buses into the city centre.
Travelling out of the city centre
A new outbound camera-enforced bus lane will be introduced between Providence Street and Baptist Place, alongside two general traffic lanes. One lane will allow traffic to continue straight onto Westgate, and the other lane will allow a right turn onto Drewton Road.
Where the bus lane ends, buses and general traffic continuing straight ahead will merge. Two right-turn lanes will remain for vehicles turning onto Drewton Road.
The cycleway along Westgate, at the junction with Baptist Place, will be extended.
The new bus lanes will be shared with cyclists, providing a route for cyclists through the area alongside the bus priority measures.
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Vehicle access to the former Oastler Shopping Centre and multi-storey car park will be permanently closed.
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Detailed plans showing the improvements to Westgate once construction is complete are available below.
These plans show the layouts, crossings, cycle routes and bus lane improvements for the scheme.
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The scheme was subject to a six-week public consultation during September and October 2025, giving local people the opportunity to provide their views.
Following the consultation, feedback received from the community was considered and the design updated.
As a result, the scheme being constructed is different from some of the proposals that were shown during the 2025 consultation.
Key changes include:
The previously proposed extension of the cycleway along Westgate, close to Sedgefield Terrace, has been removed from the scheme. Cycleway extensions remain in other locations.
The Simes Street and Rawson Road junctions with Westgate are now proposed to be altered as part of the Bradford City Village project. You can find out more by visiting: www.bradfordcityvillage.com
The left-turn slip road from Westgate onto Lumb Lane will still be removed for all traffic apart from cyclists. A new cycleway will be installed to provide access for cyclists turning left onto Lumb Lane.
St Thomas’s Road will still be closed to two-way traffic from Westgate, while cycle access will remain. Planters and a new cycleway will be installed to facilitate this.
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The Westgate scheme is being delivered by Bradford Council with funding specifically allocated to the project by the UK Government. No money raised through Bradford Council tax has been spent on the scheme.
Keep up to date
This webpage will be updated as the works progress with the latest information about construction activity, traffic management and upcoming works.
Please check back regularly for updates before travelling through Westgate.
If you have a question about the Bradford Westgate Bus Hotspot Scheme or the construction works, please get in touch with the project team.
If you would like further information about the scheme, please contact Bradford Council on 01274 432111 and ask to speak to Ali Hussain or Kavin Stoddart.
Alternatively you can email: ali.hussain@bradford.gov.uk
You can also write to:
Highway Services 4th Floor
Britannia House, Bradford
BD1 1HX
F.A.O. A HUSSAIN
We look forward to working with residents, businesses and stakeholders throughout construction and thank you for your patience while these improvements are delivered.